On the 14th of december 2007, 80 surplus leopard 2a4 were bought from the netherlands. The leopard 2a6m can tank, is a canadian variant of the leopard 2a6 tank. Automatically, this would boost the interoperability among the different armed forces within the eu. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the german army. Leopard 1 vs leopard 2 comparison tanks specifications. Kampfpanzer leopard 2 main battle tank international service. The leopard 2 driver training tank, as the name implies, is a noncombatant leopard 2 for instructing soldiers in the finer points of handling the tank. He has written four books on postwar armour in english and french in 2014 and has edited 3 of robert griffins previous works for kagero publishing. The final chapter of the book shows a religious official visiting their home and throwing out a bunch of old relics and artifacts from their personal chapel.
Leopard 2 main battle tanks international service and variants book online at best prices in india on amazon. Feb 08, 2019 tiger tank meets leopard tanks tank museum, bovington duration. Leopard 2 main battle tank 197998 osprey publishing. S, o the leopard 2 has repeatedly underlined its leading position as the most capable and most versatile main battle tank of the world. The leopard 1s first engagement was during operation bollebank and operation amanda, where danish peacekeeping leopard 1a5dks fought bosnianserb forces in 1994. Ive been looking for a good book that gives comprehensive coverage of the german leopard 2 for years, and this is it. Various versions have served in the armed forces of germany and 12 other european countries, as well as several noneuropean nations. Inside a british mark iv ww1 tank i the great war special duration. This list of leopard 2 reference material was originally compiled from books in my own reference library. The leopardo 2e or leopard 2a6e is a variant of the german leopard 2 main battle tank. While the focus of this chapter is the slat armor itself. The leopard 2a4 is very similar to the american m1 and these were the first combat losses for the leopard 2. The leopard 2 mbt and the ccv are both considered heavy afvs, which according to cf doctrine, are vehicles over 40 tonnes in combat weight. Vajra cr01 txt2 agrios toyota tundra highlift 12 22 toyota hilux highlift 12 22 subaru brat.
Turkey bought 354 used leopard 2 tanks during the great postcold war sell off of european tank fleets. Enhanced by ospreys signature colour plates and cutaway artwork, this book examines the development of the leopard 2 from the first batch to its evolution into the improved. Though by 1970 this project was stopped, west germany used the components created for the mbtkpz70 to develop a new main battle tank the leopard 2. When the leopard 2, a thirdgeneration main battle tank, first entered service with the bundeswehr in 1979, at the height of the cold war, it was indisputably the most advanced and potent tank in the world. Is the challenger 2 the best armoured tank in the world. The hull is made of spaced multilayer armor and divided into the drivers compartment in front, the fighting compartment in the middle, and the engine compartment in the rear. Dec 03, 2017 the original buyers of leopard i have already flooded the market but now only leopard 2s are wanted. All videos with propaganda from any faction in an ongoing war must consist mostly of combat footage. Development of the leopard 2 main battle tank mbt began in 1970. Leopard 2 main battle tank 197998 by michael jerchel. This book covers the leopard 2 from the first designs as an upgrade of the leopard 1, until the latest upgrades and export versions as of now. The history has been kept concise in this offering from tankograd publishing, but it does do a good job of keeping the story interesting and functional. Leopard 2 tank fires a dm12a2 heat round at a t55 hull on a.
Leopard 2 main battle tank 197998 new vanguard book 24 ebook. The danish leopard 2a5 tells the story of the leopard 2a5 main battle tank in use with the danish army. Enhanced by ospreys signature colour plates and cutaway artwork, this book examines the development of the leopard 2 from the first batch. The battle tank leopard 2 a7 is presented by german kraussmaffei wegmann kmw on june 14, 2010 at eurosatory 2010 in villepinte near paris according to the expert, the leopard s key disadvantage stems from the fact that it uses tungsten instead of depleted uranium for tank rounds. These vehicles received the added m mine armor package and other additional modifications for canadian army service, hence their new designation. The leopard 2 is also a popular subject for modellers which is why david grummitts highly illustrated expert guide is so valuable. Buy kampfpanzer leopard 2 main battle tank international service and variants by frank lobitz isbn. Kampfpanzer leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army service frank lobitz on. The battle tank leopard 2 a7 is presented by german kraussmaffei wegmann kmw on june 14, 2010 at eurosatory 2010 in villepinte near paris according to the expert, the leopards key disadvantage stems from the fact that it uses tungsten instead of depleted uranium for tank rounds. In the modern 2 a6 version, especially an increase in the engagement range has been implemented. While many people will complain that the book is not technical enough, or doesnt have enough color pictures, i feel it provides an excellent overview of the. Danish leopard 2a5dks were deployed in afghanistan. This has been achieved with the conversion of surplus leopard 2 tanks bought from other countries. Canadian forces leopard 2 a4m can mbt in afghanistan.
Drive of my life the leopard 2a4 mbt driver youtube. Leopard 2 project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. The leopard has two positions, a driver and a gunner. While it is somewhat reminiscent of the leopard 2 s original gunners sight placement for some people, it is actually designed differently. Leopard 2 main battle tank international service and variants the. The large exploded color diagrams that feature in all of these books are impossible to readnavigate in ebook book form so totally useless in their current form. In 1963 west germany and the united states signed an agreement to develop the best tank in the world the mbtkpz70.
The leopard 2 s original sight layout has armor in front and behind the gunners sight, the sight also doesnt extend to the bottom of the turret. Leopard 2 main battle tank 19791998 osprey new vanguard 24. With over 319 pages and 679 photos the author, frank lobitz, takes the reader on a grand tour of the leopard, going into fine detail how, and why, the design of the leopard went as it did. Close combat vehicle and leopard 2 main battle tank canadian. Jun 18, 2015 the first chapter of this book, leopard 2a6m with slat armour, takes and incredible upclose look at newly deployed canadian leopard 2a6m can and its slat armor. Oct 23, 2016 the next issue is the result of the gunners sight layout. Given the limitations of my knowledge and the breadth of my reference library, this list is by no means complete. The outer two columns are for combat, and the center three are for movement. It can attack and defend with full power at any mo ment. Leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army service covers the leo 2 in much better detail and includes the most recent variants.
The primary armament of the leopard 2 mbt is a 120mm cannon and the ccv will be armed with a weapons system able to destroy protected dismounted troops, soft skin vehicles, lavs. On 24th october 1979, the first series production leopard 2 main battle tank was officially handed over to the bundeswehr. Leopard 2 main battle tank 197998 new vanguard book 24. Battle tank mbt and the close combat vehicle ccv on the canadian army ca. As well as describing in detail the leopard 2s design, development and combat history, he gives a full account of the wide range of modelling kits and accessories available in all the popular scales. Kosovo kfor germany deployed their leopard 2a5s as part of the contribution to the kfor international peacekeeping force in kosovo. Jcsp 38 pcemi 38 master of defence studies maitrise en etudes. In 1963 west germany and the united states signed an ag. Kampfpanzer leopard 2 main battle tank development and german army service.
Leopard 2 main battle tank 197998 new vanguard, band 24. Further, the real protection performance numbers for all three tanks are classified, so most peoples guess is as good. Aug 04, 2010 keong visits the 48th battalion singapore armoured regiment to see how it feels like to drive the leopard 2a4 main battle tank, and to find out about the challenges of manoeuvring these big cats. It can attack and defend with full power at any mo. Jan 17, 2017 the reputation of germanys vaunted leopard 2 tank, which forms the mainstay of natos armored forces, has taken a pounding in battles with islamic state militants in syria. All the countries which have the tank in service come along, with beautifull colour pictures of the tank in action. Leopard 2 main battle tank 197998 ebook by michael. Sep 07, 2017 well the abrams armor is based on the challenger armor design but has additional du armor layers that the chally doesnt have. Since 1979, when the first leopard 2 rolled off the production line, the leopard 2 has undergone various modifications, and has. In those days a clash between nato and the warsaw pact was possible and the west german army needed a well protected tank, which would be superior to the models introduced in the eastern block. Germanys leopard tanks prove vulnerable in islamic state. Leopard 2 main battle tank international service and variants.
One was recorded contributing to a gunfight between peacekeepers and a yugo with two armed men in it see video below. The german leopard 2 appeared in 1979 and was an immediate export hit, especially to replace elderly u. People love to ignore the fact that the turkish leopard 2a4 is fitted with outdated armor, possibly still the first generation of armor technology introduced with the original leopard 2 in 1979. But its only an old stuffed dog being thrown into the. Pdf leopard 2 main battle tank download full pdf book. Jun 05, 2018 the eda project based on this idea is called optimisation of the main battle tank capability in europe with initial focus on leopard 2 ombtleo2 and its main goal is to equip eastern eu member states with modern leopard 2 tanks.
The leopard 2 proper has been traced back to 1970 in this book, a full 25 years before the leopard 2 went into military service with the bundeswehr. But when the cold war ended in 1991 many leopard 2 users looked to sell off many of their leopard 2s. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded. The leopard 2 has a fourstroke, 12cylinder multifuel, exhaust turbocharged, liquidcooled engine.
The decision to put the leopard 2 tank in production for the german army was made after a study was undertaken, which showed that adopting the leopard 2 mod would result in a greater combat potential of the german army than producing more leopard 1a4 tanks or developing an improved version of the leopard 1a4 with 105120 mm smoothbore gun. The leopard 2 also has three forward speeds but only one reverse speed. International service and variants by frank lobitz isbn. The leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by kraussmaffei in the 1970s for the west german army.
Bundeswehr leopard 2 mbt at 40 part 1 joint forces news. With 747 photographs and 30 graphics on 296 pages this book supplements leopard 2 development and german army service to become the most comprehensive study on the leopard 2 mbt ever published. A 2009 tankograd book by frank lobitz kampfpanzer leopard 2. The leopard 2 a6 owes its superior fighting ability to an optimal combination of protection, agility, controllability and fire power. Hopefully the publisher makes such a book also about his brother, the older leopard 1 tank. The recent wins for the leopard 2 such as greece choosing the leopard 2 over the m1 abrams and the leclerc are strong evidence that it is one of the best tanks in the world. This book about the leopard 2 tank is highly recommandable for military enthousiasts. The 55 ton leopard 2a4 is a contemporary of the american m1, but without the upgraded armor.
The driver has 100 rounds for the main gun while the gunner has rounds for the top. Jan 21, 2017, all people who think the leopard 2 is a good are nazitank fanboys and the abramschallenger 2 t84 is an inpenetratable super tank. The book ends with fabrizios daughter concetta looking out her window and thinking she sees a leopard the salina family symbol. Vs tank infrared 124th scale tiger i and leopard 2 a5. Set against the political upheavals of italy in the 1860s, it focuses on don fabrizio, a sicilian prince of immense sensual appetites, wealth, and great personal magnetism. The turret is supplanted by a weighted and fixed observation cab with forward and sidefacing windows and a dummy gun. Since 1979, when the first leopard 2 rolled off the production line, the leopard 2 has undergone various modifications, and has been exported to various european countries. There are two main development batches of the tank. Tankograd specials kampfpanzer leopard 2 leopard 2 main. Unlike humans, it doesnot need to prep for movement. Leopard 2 main battle tank international service and variants the leopard 2 has repeatedly underlined its leading position as the most capable and most versatile main battle tank of the world. The leopard is a story of a decadent and dying aristocracy threatened by the forces of revolution and democracy.
1228 1180 240 775 1465 824 869 1221 1653 920 1367 499 883 1099 849 760 343 1597 1082 708 4 929 657 1566 377 1675 297 1156 997 95 111 1011 1428 1469 1293 1161 1259